Ebony Les Paul custom serial number

[EmiAba]

Hi
found out a good deal in a local store with a Gibson les paul custom in a really good shape. The SKU is LPC-EBGHI, the serial is 00453662 and the date reported on tag is 05/04/04. I am really interested in that guitar but I think there something wrong. I've always thought custom shop products, after 2000, came with the serial CS YYXXX not the regular YDDDYXXX. Decoding the serial the built date is Feb 2003 not 2004. The guitar seems genuine to me but the paper is not. Any thoughts?

Last question: what does "HI" mean?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Ebony Les Paul custom serial number

I can't remember the years or runs, but there were years that LPC's weren't made in the custom shop. The breakdown of the code letters is fairly straight forward:

LPC - Les Paul Custom
EB - Ebony Finish
GH - Gold Hardware
1 (not I) - 1st condition, not a factory 2nd which would have a 2.

As for the S/N, Gibson is notorious for not being consistent with SN's and even reusing them. If you post over at My Les Paul, the experts there can tell you quickly whether the serial number is correct and what year it is. It's very likely that all is legit with your guitar, but for your piece of mind post over at My Les Paul.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Ebony Les Paul custom serial number

The word "Custom" in "Les Paul Custom" does not reference the Gibson Custom/Art/Historic line in any way. "Les Paul Custom" is just the model name for the deluxe trim level of the Les Paul model guitar – the same name that has been used for it since the '50's.

There have been many Custom/Art/Historic Les Paul Custom models made over the years, but your typical Les Paul Custom is a standard production line guitar. With that serial number, the one you are talking about is clearly a standard production line Gibson.

Custom/Art/Historic guitars are superior by pretty much any objective measure of guitar building. As such, they command a premium over the average Les Paul Custom. Do not pay a Custom/Art/Historic price for a standard production Les Paul Custom.

When you say, "the date reported on tag," what tag are you speaking of?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Ebony Les Paul custom serial number

A 2004 model actually made in 2003
That sounds common enough

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Ebony Les Paul custom serial number

There too many discrepancies to take a chance. If you want a quick answer to pull the trigger or save some cash, call Gibson and ask them to run the serial number. They'll be able to tell you specs and confirm it's authenticity as a standard or custom shop instrument. It takes no more than 5-10 mins. I've called them multiple times.

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